Tongue-Type Guide Vane for Ear Canal Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for removing moisture and cerumen from the external auditory canal risk damaging the eardrum and are inefficient in reaching and removing moisture and debris from the entire canal, especially in the recessus meatus acustici externi.
Innovation Solution
An attachment with a tongue-like guide vane that directs airflow or fluid flow in a controlled manner, creating a vortex field within the ear canal to prevent direct impact on the eardrum and ensure thorough drying and cleaning by guiding the flow along the canal walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flow is directed directly onto the eardrum to remove moisture efficiently, then drying efficiency is improved, but the eardrum is at risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vane creates different flow characteristics at different locations: near the eardrum the flow is diffused and gentle to prevent injury, while further in the canal the flow maintains sufficient velocity to effectively remove moisture. The asymmetric design with different cheek heights directs the air flow to sweep along the canal walls rather than directly at the eardrum.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane acts as an intermediary element between the air flow source and the eardrum. It modifies the air flow pattern by creating a vortex field that indirectly dries the ear canal through wall sweeping motion, rather than allowing direct air flow impact on the eardrum.
2Reliability
If attachment is inserted only a few millimeters into the ear canal to avoid eardrum damage, then safety is improved, but moisture in the end area of the ear canal cannot be removed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vane creates a vortex (rotational) flow pattern in the air stream. This curved, swirling motion allows the air flow to sweep along the ear canal walls and reach the recessus meatus acustici externi at the end area, effectively removing moisture from regions that would be inaccessible with straight linear flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric guide vane design with different cheek heights introduces a lateral dimension to the air flow pattern. The flow is directed to sweep along the canal walls in a curved path, accessing the terminal regions of the ear canal through this dimensional change in flow trajectory rather than direct linear insertion.
3Productivity
If higher intensity air flow is used to remove moisture from deep in the ear canal, then drying efficiency is improved, but the risk of eardrum damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vane creates different flow characteristics at different locations: near the eardrum the flow is diffused and gentle to prevent injury, while further in the canal the flow maintains sufficient velocity to effectively remove moisture. The asymmetric design with different cheek heights directs the air flow to sweep along the canal walls rather than directly at the eardrum.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane creates a vortex (rotational) flow pattern in the air stream. This curved, swirling motion allows the air flow to sweep along the ear canal walls and reach the recessus meatus acustici externi at the end area, effectively removing moisture from regions that would be inaccessible with straight linear flow.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The attachment enables quick and efficient drying and cerumen removal without risking the eardrum, achieving noticeable drying in 15 seconds and complete drying within 30 seconds, while ensuring effective cleaning and therapeutic treatment of the external auditory canal.
Implementation Method 1
creating a vortex field within the ear canal to prevent direct impact on the eardrum
Implementation Method 2
guiding the flow along the canal walls
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to an attachment (1) for a device (2) for generating an air flow or dispensing a fluid, which attachment (1) is designed to be at least partially introduced into an external auditory canal (3) of a human or animal ear, the attachment (1) comprising a connection piece (4) for connecting the attachment (1) to the device (2) for generating an air flow, and a tongue-type guide vane (5) for conducting air that flows out of the device (2) for generating an air flow via the connection piece (4), said guide vane (5) having a bottom (25).